Monday Musings

So today I am musing (speaking as a western-ed white female hermit)...responsibilities and adulting is hard to do. The universe has seen fit to share with me lots of choice advice/avenues, especially after I chose to ask non-partial 3rd party help (which...have factors of their own within and because of...) and because I can't help but be on repeat. All the talk about has given me some musings. The evolution of society has given way to lots of things. Thinking has changed, mostly for the better (most, if not all that felt oppressed have expressed their displeasure with legal success...). I have to say, looking at some of the histories, I kind of miss it. While, yes, societal acceptance of certain superiority is and has been problematic (because we all like to feel equal, especially nowadays), their routine and habits were essential and actually taught, whether they were staying home or not and they were and could be creative if they didn't have things. As the world turned and we developed, we created and invented things that would make us do more faster (which helped spur on the more equality thinking), we left the essential teaching behind us (the acts of being mini-adults, as it were). For example, (and because I am working on this toilet training thing) toilets as we know them didn't come into existence (widespread) till the 1800s-although as most things it was invented waaaaaay before then (the 1500s). Yes, before then we used pots or holes in the ground, but everyone did it when they had to. There was none of this, when to, or how to or whatever it is these days, you just did it. The babes were clothed or naked and the adults around them may have had layers on but it was universal to just go and it was learned from those around you not pushed off to experts...other habits that were taught (in some sort of capacity) automatically were what we call, housing keeping, now, these skills (crafting, mending, some form of reading, writing, and math as well as science) were a part of everyday life for all. Males did it as an excuse for learning their livelihood (or to show their smarts off), women, on top of being expected, the same reasoning. Sewing/crafting was used for an array of things, from mending and making objects that were being used (cloth, tools) to reproducing it on humans and animals (doctoring). Math/science was for proper amounts to be distributed from money/trade goods and proper portions of food or medicine, reading and writing was also (mostly) for remembering: what you need, what they have, distribution, etc. In today's fast-paced world (ever since the industrial age, I say) the skills and habits learned are all passed off to other people Educational teachers teach kids as young as young can be (ie, daycare and preschool) all the way up to legal adulthood and beyond (college at all levels) from potty training to academics...with the meat of it being how fast can they learn. It's all about being out of the house and making a living, which accrues factors of all sorts, mechanics, and machinery are replacing essential skills...or only being taught to those who chose to achieve its mastery.

Can you tell I am having a hard time with today's fast-paced world and its habits?

So, I have recognized due to all sorts of musings and thinkings, I never found myself learning some of these essentials for whatever reason. Now that I have a child, this fact has hit me HARD. In this light and due to all my thinkings and musings, my plan is to slow it down in this house prep for the outside fast-paced world. Just like finding things to do for this blog...it is time I try to apply this to the rest of life...at least inside the house. How for all of you who consider this an automatic occurrence...you should remember the date and think about my first paragraph...I.E., I spent my CHILDhood in the 90s/2000s, the age of technology and outside sourcing...as well as being part of the statistics of being raised with divorced parents that needed to provide income...which left the house and it's essential skills empty. The first step for that, everyone claims is to limit technology. In this route, I am not entirely concerned as my child isn't yet at that point of staying put when any sort of technology is on for very long (it used mostly as background noise) as well as noting that the programs we put on and she prefers are educational in nature and one major way she has figured a lot of things out. Also being today's generation of adults (versus older generations), technology has been a part of my husband's, and my life is on a consistent continuous basis and we have survived..and aren't in a hurry to give it up. Yes yes, most of you possibly agree with my husband in thinking that we are different, mostly because we paid our dues, as it were, (I., E., we are the adult and they are the child(ren)), I haven't cottoned on to that idea of thinking yet, so the unfair factor also settles into my brain. However, my husband made mention of Luna's attitude and a possible connection to time spent with electronics, so today I have changed the settings on my child's small screened technology device(s), so we shall see how it goes. 

With this timed electronics, I also want to hone in on some habits. Possibly due to the time crunch of when society expects my child to stop being a child and start being a mini adult (the irony of me having problems with transitional concept/complaint is not lost on me), I want to simulate my house into a learning place with a little more structure...still keeping some freedoms of course. (there will be more of an emphasis on cementing certain developments and habits). Now, because anyone who knows me knows I will have a mental breakdown being in the role of expert/teacher, I will be instead a co-participant...which will also help my habits as well as providing a basis for hers. HA! 

The problem I already foresee is figuring out how and as always being consistent with it...I guess I will start task by task and go from there...wish me luck!